Sleepy Bampton in West Oxfordshire bears little resemblance to the industrial heart of Cowley, but it could have been so different if a humble watchmaker had had his way.

In 1888, the impressively named Oliver Onesipherous Collett opened a Watchmakers and Jewellers business in Cheapside (now Exeter House) in Bampton.

But while he spent his days mending watches, Mr Collett's dreams lay in the exciting world of motorised transport.

Sometime before 1900 he built a motorcycle and later made the first sidecar in the district.

The jewellery business soon took a back seat to his cycle and motorcycle building and repair work.

He enlarged his premises by taking over the adjoining Cromwell House and between 1901 and 1902 - a decade before William Morris conceived his famous Bullnose Morris - Collett built a small car which he named the Bampton Voiturette. Voiture is French for car.

The incredible tale of the watchmaker-turned car marker from Bampton is currently being told in the exhibition Why Bampton didn't become Cowley - The History of Bampton Vehicles including Collett's Voiturette at Bampton Library until November 1.

Graham Newman, of Bampton Museum and History Society, is one of a host of local historians whose imaginations have been fueled by Mr Collett.

Mr Newman, who put together the exhibition, said: "Mr Collett was a true pioneer. He came early into the market at a time when there many forward-looking entrepreneurial, creative and skilled engineers all over the country building motor cars.

"The photographs show the engine in front of the radiator of the voiturette, which was a typical French/Belgian design and a construction design favoured by Renault.

"Looking at the vehicle, it's easy to see the skills progression from building bicycles, tricycles and motorcycles to the voiturette."

While a village like Bampton may not seem the perfect location for motor manufacturing, it did have one major advantage.

Mr Newman explained: "We had had a rail connection just a mile or so away from the village since 1873, so if Collett had started producing the cars there wouldn't have been a problem in distribution - Bampton could have been the Cowley of Oxfordshire!"

Unfortunately for Mr Collett, his dream was not meant to be.

Mr Newman said: "Sadly, cars were regarded by many at the time as rich men's playthings and by some as total folly.

"Motorcars were also expensive, and one can only assume that the recession of 1907 led to Mr Collett dismantling the car and ending his venture by 1908."

Mr Newman said: "Bampton could have been a very different place if circumstances had been a little different for Mr Collett - he was just ahead of his time.

"Ironically it was in 1908, not too far from here, in Oxford, that a Mr William Morris built his first of many hundreds of thousands of motor cars.

"Both he and Mr Collett built bicycle and motorcycle businesses. Both men had creative, inventive and visionary minds but only one had the right product, at the right time, in the right place and at the right price."

Mr Collett died in 1934.

His son Christopher continued the business until after the Second World War, when the business was bought by Leonard Hughes.

Mr Newman said: "We would be very interested to find out whether his family are still around.

"Mr Collett and his motor car occupy a very important place in the history of Bampton."

The exhibition is at Bampton Library in Church View, until November 1. Open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday 2.30-4.30pm and Wednesday and Saturday 10am-noon. Admission is free.